A counter-demonstrator (c.) squares off with immigrant rights supporters during a protest outside Wrigley Field before the start of the Cubs' game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday. (Olson/Getty)

The Arizona anti-immigration law that has sparked nationwide calls for a boycott of the state is supported by a slim majority of Americans - and some hope the measure will be a springboard for more Draconian measures.

The passage of Arizona's controversial SB 1070, which calls for police in that state to use "reasonable suspicion" to question and detain possible undocumented immigrants, is supported by 51% of Americans, a new Gallup Poll says.

"Between $10 [billion] and $20 billion in this state that we spend on immigration - that's health services, that's education and jails. We just can't afford it anymore," he told the crowd, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We're not being mean. We're just saying it takes more than just walking across the border to become an American citizen.

"It's what's in our souls."

Conservative lawmakers in Oklahoma, buoyed by the passage of SB 1070, say they will introduce a similar bill in their state. In fact, Republican state Rep. Randy Terrill told The Associated Press that Oklahoma may even take Arizona's example further and include assets seizure provisions and harsher penalties for illegal immigrants.

Further north of the border, however, the political reaction to the Arizona law is decidedly different.

"It would be immoral to not stand up in the face of a piece of legislation that is rooted in hate and fear," Coleman said in a statement. "We are a country of immigrants and SB 1070 is an affront to our Constitution and the values we hold dear as Americans.

"It's not worthy of who we are as a people - and it's certainly not worthy of the investment of any city dollars being spent in Arizona."

The move comes a day after San Francisco's mayor, Gavin Newsom, announced an immediate ban on travel to the state for his city's employees, calling the new law "unacceptable."

Denver public schools, the city's school district, also gave the SB 1070 a failing grade.

City councils across the country - including New York City - are also considering official boycotts of Arizona-made products.

Nearly two dozen New York City Council members and other city officials gathered on the steps of City Hall Thursday to announce a resolution to condemn the law.

"This is the ugly head of apartheid rearing its head in Arizona," city controller John Liu said. "And for the same reason that New York boycotted South Africa more than 20 years ago, some kind of boycott needs to take place now to send a message."

But the biggest groundswell against the law is happening far outside city halls and state capitols. Immigration rights groups across the country have mobilized boycotts and demonstrations in Arizona - and beyond.

Canadian indie rockers Stars canceled tour dates for a planned swing through Arizona, with front man Torquil Campbell comparing the state to Nazi Germany.